HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Commission Fact SheetCITY COMMISSION FACT SHEET
File ID: 8363
Title: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, APPROVING WITH CONDITIONS, PURSUANT TO
ARTICLES 3 AND 7 OF ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("MIAMI 21 CODE"), THE REZONING OF CERTAIN PARCELS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 18.61 ACRES (810,795
SQUARE FEET) FOR THE "JUNGLE ISLAND SPECIAL AREA PLAN"
("SAP") LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 1111 PARROT JUNGLE TRAIL
AND 1111 MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED ("PROPERTY"); THE SAP CONSISTS OF A
TRANSECT ZONE CHANGE FROM "CS", CIVIC SPACE TRANSECT
ZONE, TO "T6-12-0", URBAN CORE — OPEN TRANSECT ZONE, FOR
THE SOUTHEASTERLY 234,310 SQUARE FEET OF THE PROPERTY;
THE SAP WILL MODIFY THE TRANSECT ZONE REGULATIONS THAT
ARE APPLICABLE TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND WHERE A
REGULATION IS NOT SPECIFICALLY MODIFIED BY THE SAP, THE
REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS OF THE MIAMI 21 CODE WILL
APPLY; APPROVING A NEW HOTEL WITH UP TO THREE HUNDRED
(300) ROOMS; THE SAP SHALL CONTAIN A MINIMUM OF 40,540
SQUARE FEET OF AN APPROVED CIVIC SPACE TYPE; MAKING
FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
LOCATION: Approximately 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail and 1111 MacArthur Cswy
[Commissioner Ken Russell - District 2]
APPLICANT(S): T. Spencer Crowley, Esquire, on behalf of ESJ JI Leasehold, LLC
PURPOSE: This will allow the construction of a 300 room hotel and new attractions
through Special Area Plan regulations and a Transect change from "CS" to "T6-12-0"
for 5.379 acres of the property.
FINDING(S):
PLANNING DEPARTMENT: Recommended approval with conditions
PLANNING, ZONING AND APPEALS BOARD: Recommended approval with
conditions, on December 16, 2020, by a vote of 5-2.
City of Miami File ID: 8363 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/16/2025
City of Miami
Legislation
Ordinance
Enactment Number:13973
City Hall
3500 Pan Ameican Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 8363 Final Action Date: 2/25/2021
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, APPROVING WITH CONDITIONS, PURSUANT TO
ARTICLES 3 AND 7 OF ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI
21 CODE"), THE REZONING OF CERTAIN PARCELS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 18.61 ACRES (810,795 SQUARE
FEET) FOR THE "JUNGLE ISLAND SPECIAL AREA PLAN" ("SAP")
LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 1111 PARROT JUNGLE TRAIL AND
1111 MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED ("PROPERTY"); THE SAP CONSISTS OF A TRANSECT
ZONE CHANGE FROM "CS", CIVIC SPACE TRANSECT ZONE, TO "T6-
12-0", URBAN CORE — OPEN TRANSECT ZONE, FOR THE
SOUTHEASTERLY 234,310 SQUARE FEET OF THE PROPERTY; THE
SAP WILL MODIFY THE TRANSECT ZONE REGULATIONS THAT ARE
APPLICABLE TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND WHERE A
REGULATION IS NOT SPECIFICALLY MODIFIED BY THE SAP, THE
REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS OF THE MIAMI 21 CODE WILL
APPLY; APPROVING A NEW HOTEL WITH UP TO THREE HUNDRED
(300) ROOMS; THE SAP SHALL CONTAIN A MINIMUM OF 40,540
SQUARE FEET OF AN APPROVED CIVIC SPACE TYPE; MAKING
FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board ("PZAB"), at its meeting on
December 16, 2020, following an advertised public hearing, adopted Resolution No. PZAB-R-
20-048 by a vote of five to two (5-2), Item No. PZAB.3, recommending approval with conditions
of the Jungle Island Special Area Plan ("SAP"); and
WHEREAS, the properties located at approximately 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail and 1111
MacArthur Causeway, Miami, Florida, as more particularly described in Exhibit "A", attached
and incorporated (collectively, "Property"), is currently zoned "CS", Civic Space Transect Zone,
on the Zoning Atlas of Ordinance No. 13114, the Zoning Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended ("Miami 21 Code"); and
WHEREAS, Exhibit "A", attached and incorporated, also includes a separate sketch and
legal description of the area subject to the proposed zoning change as described herein and
companion land use change, which is wholly within the SAP Property; and
WHEREAS, the Property is a City -owned property that contains the Jungle Island theme
park, which is open to the general public; and
City of Miami File ID: 8363 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/16/2025
WHEREAS, ESJ JI Leasehold, LLC ("Applicant") is the lessee of the Property and
applied to the City of Miami ("City") to rezone the Property through the process described in
Article 3, Section 3.9 of the Miami 21 Code, titled "Special Area Plans"; and
WHEREAS, the SAP proposes modified regulations through the Regulating Plan,
attached and incorporated as Exhibit "B", and a rezoning of the southeasterly 5.38 acres of
1111 Parrot Jungle Trail from "CS", Civic Space Transect Zone, to "T6-12-0", Urban Core
Transect Zone — Open; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant submitted a companion application to amend the Future Land
Use Map ("FLUM") of the Miami Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan, as amended ("MCNP"),
ePlan ID PZ-19-4295, to change the Future Land Use designation of the southeasterly 5.38
acres from "Public Parks and Recreation" to "Restricted Commercial"; and
WHEREAS, the SAP consists of 18.61 acres of land; and
WHEREAS, the SAP is located on Watson Island, along the Macarthur Causeway,
between the City's mainland and South Beach in Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, the SAP is bounded by Biscayne Bay to the north, the MacArthur Causeway
to the west, the Ichimura Japanese Garden to the south, and the Miami Yacht Club and Watson
Island Marina to the east; and
WHEREAS, in August 2018, City voters approved a referendum to amend the Jungle
Island lease agreement to allow the extension of the lease and the modification of the lease to
include a hotel and attractions; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant submitted the SAP and companion FLUM amendment
applications to enable the construction of the hotel; and
WHEREAS, the SAP proposes the "Jungle Island SAP Master Plan", which categorizes
proposed uses into four (4) Use classifications and assigns general areas within which those
proposed uses can be built pursuant to the modified land development regulations in the
Regulating Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City's Planning Department recommended approval with conditions of
the SAP, including the Regulating Plan and Concept Book plans, respectively attached and
incorporated as Exhibit "B" and Exhibit "C"; and
WHEREAS, the City's Planning Department recommends the following conditions as
part of the SAP, which were also recommended by PZAB:
1. All development within the SAP's boundaries shall be substantially in accordance with
the Concept Book plans, attached and incorporated as Exhibit "C", and the Regulating
Plan, titled "Appendix M: Jungle Island SAP", attached and incorporated as Exhibit "B",
consisting of twenty-four (24) pages, both of which were both batch stamped with the
staff analysis from the City's Planning Department.
2. The Applicant and any successor shall comply with the requirements of all applicable
departments/agencies as part of the City's building permit submittal process.
3. Prior to the issuance of any building permit, including a phased permit, proof of
compliance with any outstanding comments or conditions submitted through the
Coordinated Review Committee or subsequent to that meeting from pertinent City or
City of Miami File ID: 8363 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/16/2025
related agency reviewing departments must be submitted by the Applicant or any
successor.
4. All applicable building codes, land development regulations, ordinances, and other laws
must be met and all applicable fees due must be paid prior to the issuance of any
building permit, including phased permits.
5. All applicable regulations of Chapter 24, titled "Environmental Regulations", of the Miami
Dade County Code, as amended, must be complied with.
6. Uses outlined in Article 6, Section 6.3.7.a of the Regulating Plan shall be developed in
accordance with the Interpretation of the 2020 Future Land Use Map and be developed
for passive and active recreational and cultural uses.
7. The Applicant and any successor shall meet the conditions identified in the Ordinance
permitting the SAP, with the SAP itself, and all applicable local, state, and federal
regulations.
8. Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the SAP Ordinance, the Applicant or
successor must record a certified copy of the Development Agreement specifying that
the Development Agreement runs with the land and is binding on the Applicant, its
successors, and assigns, jointly and severally.
9. Being located on the water's edge of Biscayne Bay, one of the City's most important
ecological features, new development shall be designed to meet a high standard of
resilience and sustainability and ensure that there are no adverse impacts to the health
of the bay.
10. All permits, including permits reviewed By Right as a Building Permit, shall include
Planning Department review to ensure the development conforms to the minimum
standards of the SAP; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has considered the goals, objectives, and policies of
the MCNP, the Miami 21 Code, and other City regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has considered the need and justification for the
proposed rezoning and SAP, including changing and changed conditions that make the
passage of the propose rezoning and SAP necessary; and
WHEREAS, the proposed rezoning and SAP maintain the goals of the Miami 21 Code to
preserve neighborhoods and provide transitions in intensity and building height; and
WHEREAS, after careful consideration of the matter, the City Commission finds it in the
best interest of the general welfare of the City and its residents to approve the proposed SAP as
hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are
hereby adopted by reference thereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission approves the SAP for the Property described in Exhibit
"A", attached and incorporated, including the transect zone change of 5.38 acres of land from
"CS", Civic Space Transect Zone, to "T6-12-0", Urban Core Transect Zone — Open, described
City of Miami File ID: 8363 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/16/2025
as a part of Exhibit "A", attached and incorporated, the Regulating Plan, attached and
incorporated as Exhibit "B", and the Concept Book plans, attached and incorporated as Exhibit
"C", subject to the conditions specified herein, as recommended by the City's Planning
Department and PZAB, and the Miami 21 Code.
Section 3. The City Commission makes the following findings of fact:
a. The SAP is consistent with the MCNP;
b. The SAP will have a favorable impact on the economy of the City;
c. The SAP will efficiently use public transportation facilities;
d. Any potentially adverse effects of the development will be mitigated through
compliance with the conditions of this SAP as stated herein;
e. The SAP will efficiently use existing public and civic spaces;
f. The SAP will not negatively impact the environment or any natural resources of the
City;
g.
The SAP will not adversely affect living conditions in the neighborhood;
h. The SAP will not adversely affect public safety; and
i. The public welfare will be served by the SAP.
Section 4. The Regulating Plan and Concept Book for the SAP that were submitted after
amendments and on file with the Planning Department as of December 16, 2020, attached and
incorporated as Exhibit "B" and Exhibit "C" respectively, shall be relied upon generally for
administrative interpretations.
Section 5. The conditions as recommended by the Planning Department and stated
herein are incorporated and adopted as conditions of the City Commission.
Section 6. It is the intention of the City Commission that the provisions of this Ordinance
shall become and be made a part of the Miami 21 Code, which provisions may be renumbered
or re -lettered and that the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section", "article", or other
appropriate word to accomplish such intention.
Section 7. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phrase, or word of this
Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 8. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty-one (31) days after second
reading and adoption thereof, pursuant and subject to Section 163.3187(5)(c), Florida Statutes,
and Section 163.3184(12), Florida Statutes.'
1 This Ordinance shall become effective as specified herein unless vetoed by the Mayor within ten (10)
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Ordinance, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission or upon the effective date stated
herein. whichever is later.
City of Miami File ID: 8363 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/16/2025
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
City of Miami File ID: 8363 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/16/2025